Joe Stafford was a former Gaelic football

Gaelic football

Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

 player for Cavan

Cavan GAA

The Cavan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Cavan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Cavan...

.

Playing career

Stafford played at right full forward and was a prolific goalscorer for Cavan in the 40's. He is 9th in All-time top Ulster goalscorers

Ulster GAA

The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....

 chart. His goal was crucial in securing Cavan's famous victory in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...

 Final in Polo Grounds

Polo Grounds

The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...

, New York in 1947. He helped Cavan retain the title the following year against Co. Mayo. He also won a National Football League

National Football League (Ireland)

The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...

medal in 1949/50 season. Joe Stafford was the first man to be sent off in an All-Ireland final. He had been ordered off with fifteen minutes left in the 1943 All-Ireland final against Roscommon.